Bill Gates visits Science Leadership Academy
Inside the science lab, the visitor leaned forward, listening to teenagers describe their work - a biodiesel project, a windmill, distillation systems that may be used to purify water in Sierra Leone someday.
The world's most famous tech geek turned philanthropist had lots of questions for the students at Science Leadership Academy (SLA) - how long does that take to boil water? Why did you use this material? What's better about metal?
"It's great to see people doing hands-on science," Bill Gates said after the presentations were over. "Science is fun."
Gates was in town to receive an award Thursday night from the Franklin Institute for building Microsoft Corp. and for his philanthropy. He stopped by SLA - the district high school magnet run in partnership with the science museum - to tour the lab, then answer student questions.
About 200 students squeezed into the school's common room to hear Gates. The other 300 watched in their classrooms, text messaging questions to friends in the room. The event was streamed live around the world via the school's Web site.
Principal Christopher Lehmann was over the moon.
"It's our quirky little school, and here's Bill Gates," Lehmann said.
Gates talked about teaching computer programming to his fellow students in high school and about being an overconfident math student at Harvard. He urged the SLA teens to learn as much as they could about science.
"Hopefully, many of you will go into these fields which are so cool, so interesting," Gates said.
Gates Millenium Scholar meets her benefactor
The world's most famous tech geek turned philanthropist had lots of questions for the students at Science Leadership Academy (SLA) - how long does that take to boil water? Why did you use this material? What's better about metal?
"It's great to see people doing hands-on science," Bill Gates said after the presentations were over. "Science is fun."
Gates was in town to receive an award Thursday night from the Franklin Institute for building Microsoft Corp. and for his philanthropy. He stopped by SLA - the district high school magnet run in partnership with the science museum - to tour the lab, then answer student questions.
About 200 students squeezed into the school's common room to hear Gates. The other 300 watched in their classrooms, text messaging questions to friends in the room. The event was streamed live around the world via the school's Web site.
Principal Christopher Lehmann was over the moon.
"It's our quirky little school, and here's Bill Gates," Lehmann said.
Gates talked about teaching computer programming to his fellow students in high school and about being an overconfident math student at Harvard. He urged the SLA teens to learn as much as they could about science.
"Hopefully, many of you will go into these fields which are so cool, so interesting," Gates said.
Gates Millenium Scholar meets her benefactor
Shareesa Bollers often seeks out her teachers after class, eager to soak up just a little bit more knowledge. She runs track, gives tours of her school, helps select its new teachers, and is a playwright and actress.